Major Spoilers Are In The The Walking Dead – The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be Review
I just can’t believe the first episode of season 7 of The Walking Dead has already gone to air. It feels like the wait has been so long since I watched a new episode and while I only started watching this series earlier this year, I was completely addicted to it for a month or so and spent all my weekends watching episode after episode until I was done with season 6. The Walking Dead fans will know that season 6 ended with one of the most talked about cliffhangers in television history, or one of the most common ones (who’s going to die in the next episode?).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW_N5-ceitk
This episode of The Walking Dead is I think the most brutal and the most punishing one of the whole series, not only for the characters involved, but as a viewer watching Negan commit such brutality on screen, it was very stressful.
First off, I’d really like to talk about Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance as Negan. We got to see a bit of him at the end of season 6, but there’s a lot to see in this first episode. in fact, I think he has the most lines in the episode. I think as the show’s new villain, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has really has solidified himself as a force in the show. Not even when I was watching The Governor (David Morrissey) did I feel a sense of anxiety when watching anyone in the show, but with Negan, he’s very intimidating and scary. I’m not sure what will happen with him next, but I do hope Rick and his buddies get him for what he did.
The big part of this first episode was finding out who was killed by Negan, while I thought going in that it would probably be done as soon as the episode started, then we’d watch the opening credits and go from there, it didn’t happen that way. Things were drawn out just a little bit longer than I thought they would, with Negan toying with Rick quite a bit and the audience too. Then we see it, Abraham is killed brutally with the bat, Daryl gets up and punches Negan, he gets a bit mad and lets him go, then out of nowhere, Glenn gets a bat to the head as well.
The killing of these two characters was done in a very brutal and very sadistic way and as someone watching the show, I didn’t really want to see them get repeatedly bashed in the head. I mean I know it’s part of the show and I probably wouldn’t care if they did it to a walker, but to two of the main cast members, it wasn’t nice to watch. I think it may have been a bit too much really. I do hope that going in this type of brutal direction, is not the future of the show or at least isn’t something that becomes common.
Andrew Lincoln who plays Rick, had probably the second biggest role in the episode. While Jeffrey Dean Morgan had a lot to prove as the new villain, Andrew Lincoln’s role was still very demanding and his character was pushed to the very limit in this episode. I’m not sure if his character was 100% broken, but if not, he’s very close. I mean being asked to cut off a son’s hand? It’s a bit far really and I’m glad the show didn’t go there, I felt almost it would have been way too much if it did.
But that’s sort of why this episode was good, as a viewer it’s almost like we were all part of Negan’s game and if he got you anxious during the episode and you’re coming back for more next week, then probably you’re hooked for the whole season and Negan got you, just like he did with the rest of the characters. I certainly will be watching next week. But I can see many people possibly feeling like turning away from the show due to how brutal it was, not myself, but I can see it. I guess we’ll see how this season goes, but for a season premiere, it’s definitely a memorable one and as something that caused me to almost have an anxiety attack watching it, I think establishing Negan as a villain was well done (just don’t kill any of my favourites again please). Rest in peace Glenn and Abraham.
Bryan, great review, and I’m especially glad you could at least see my side of it. I got into the series simply for, what else? Zombies. When Rick was losing his grip on the zombie because the zombie’s body was pulling away from his head I thought that was the perfect blend of horror and dark comedy. As a retired former police officer however I’ve seen enough real violence in my life. I once walked in on a man beating a 2 year old’s face against a coffe table killing her. He thought his niece was possessed. So when we had to sit along with Maggie and watch a character like Glen, who we’ve come to love just be senselessly beaten into a bloody pulp I couldn’t understand how in the world that was entertainment. Hitchcock would have shot the scene without showing a single home run and I would argue it might have even had a greater impact. Everybody’s mind imagines a little bit differently what would be the most terrifying way to die. This was my last episode. I deleted the series recording schedule from my DVR. It feels like the writers and director are taking the easiest way out by relying on visual shock value – violence for the sake of gratuitous violence. I will say that your review did help me see your side of it. I can understand why some viewers would like it – viewers who haven’t lived through it in real life that is.
Thanks for reading and I’m glad you enjoyed my review for the episode.
I do actually agree with what you’re saying, the violence level in this episode I think was way too high. That’s why I did mention that people might turn away from the show because of it, I do see it, even still (I feel I was nearly there as well). I am still hoping they don’t go to this level again in the show, once I can understand, it’s to shock the audience for the villain. But I don’t think it would work at all if they did anything like this in the show again, I certainly wouldn’t enjoy watching it weekly if they did.
I have been watching the next few episodes, the next one is much lighter thankfully compared to this. The following one a bit darker. I think they need to get back to the walkers though, they’re a bit absent this year and it’s why I do watch the show.
Easily one of the best episodes and finally a great review to a great episode specially considering that the main motive behind the whole “trip” we’ve been through is to introduce Negan to the show/fans and how far he can go to prove his point.
I honestly don’t get what’s with the negative reaction from the people as they knew what to expect and there is nothing wrong with any of the scenes as the show lives up to the core of it.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan is simply SPOTLESS!!!
For me the episode was a 10/10 giving to the overall acting as it surpassed what we know from the TV shows generally.
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed reading my review and that you also liked the episode as well. I think I will do these weekly so should have another one up next week for episode 2
Thank you Bryan for the review, I’ve always been a huge TWD fan and honestly going through your words I can tell that you are someone who appreciates the story, characters and (mostly how good Negan excluding any bias opinions).
Keep up the good (and fair reviews) and I will be looking forward to see more of your work.
Be well,
Fawaz
finally someone nailed the review – i think it could have been rated a 10/10 with some minor quips but the acting was spot on and the episode really set up the season. Kudos to the actors who were FANTASTIC during the scene – you really “felt” the loss and the “horror” of this world. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan is just so rich and so right – so nice to see him doing this role – looking forward to the rest of the season. Can’t wait to see what is in store for Negan from the group.
Well said.
Thank you! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the review. I think I might try do these weekly for TWD. Hope to see you back here for episode 2 🙂